PSTOS - Big Bob's Pizza, Federal Way Washington

Big Bob's Pizza - 2/9 Morton-Wurlitzer
Federal Way, Washington
31406 Pacific Hwy. South
Organ installation timeframe: 1969 - 1975

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Owner Bob Koons dropped in during off hours to check on business and talk to patrons. He is standing at left beside organist Tom Kaasa

Big Bob's Pizza, c.1970. Organists Tom Kaasa (left) and Brad Miller. Note toy counter above Tom and pipe chamber behind Brad.

Big Bob's menu, c.1970's. Check out those great prices! Photo courtesy Jim Stettner

Opening in February 1969, Big Bob's Pizza was the first pipe organ-equipped restaurant in the Puget Sound area. "Big Bob" Koons installed a two-manual, five rank Robert Morton instrument orignally from the Dream Theatre in Coeur d'Alene Idaho. Bob acquired the organ in 1969 from the Highland Baptist Church in Portland. Four ranks were added.

Pipework of the Robert-Morton seen through the plate glass windows that served as one wall of the organ chamber. Swell shades were at top of chamber area.

An interesting feature was the set of Austin 32' Magnaton pipes (from Seattle's First Presbyterian Church) mounted on the ceiling.

The organ was installed by Bob Koons, Ed Zollman and Mike Koons.

Mike Koons at the console, date unknown

Regular organists included: Tom Kaasa, Brad Miller, Ron Barrett, Mike Koons and Gary Christiansen.

Visiting concert artists included Tony Fenelon who played at Big Bob's on his first two American tours.

Tom Kaasa at the console, c.1970
Big Bob's console, c.1969 or 1970

Tom Kaasa at the console with unenclosed traps, percussions and pipe chamber behind him

Tom Kaasa and Brad Miller. Brad is playing an electronic substitute (a Hammond). The Morton was out-of-order for a few days due to bad starter brushes in the blower motor.

Unfortunately the restaurant and organ were lost in a fire in December 1975. A few percussions were salvaged but the restaurant and most of the organ was a total loss.

Interestingly, just a few months prior to the Federal Way fire, Bob Koons opened a second, larger restaurant called Big Bob's Pipe Dream in Burien.

Photos courtesy: Brad Miller

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c.1971